Photo via Baltimore Ravens 

HOT TAKE-Tampa Bay Buccaneers Miss the Playoffs

All of the hype this offseason was surrounding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their offense, as they added six time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and three time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski. This situation is similar to the 2018 season when all of the hype was around the Cleveland Browns and how good their roster was. During the offseason, Cleveland traded for star wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. The team still disappointed going 7-8-1 and finishing 3rd in the AFC North. With Tom Brady out of his prime and Rob Gronkowski not playing a game in over a year, it will be difficult for this team to make the playoffs. Especially since the team has very little chemistry. 

Offensive player of the year-Christian McCaffrey

In the 2019 season, Christian McCaffrey was able to surpass 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards even behind a subpar offensive line and a backup quarterback throwing him the ball for most of the season. With Teddy Bridgewater throwing him the ball it is hard to doubt that he will have a repeat of last season. The Panthers improved their offensive line this offseason, adding tackle Russell Okung and center Matt Paradis. The two veterans have high potential to help McCaffrey have a repeat of last season. McCaffrey will stand out the most this season since he is playing on a very weak Panthers offense. 

Defensive player of the year-Aaron Donald

Aaron Donald is without a doubt the best pass rusher in the NFL. In the past three seasons he has been able achieve double digit sacks. Donald was also able to hit the quarterback 24 times last year. He is not only a threat to the quarterback, but the running backs as well. Aaron Donald had 20 TFL’s (tackles for loss) last season. With the help of veteran pass rusher Micheal Brockers, offensive lines are going to have a hard time containing these two. Even through tough NFC West Aaron Donald will continue to prove he is still the top pass rusher in the NFL. 

Super Bowl 55- 49ers vs Chiefs

The San Francisco Faithful (49ers fans) are calling this season their “revenge tour”. They lost Super Bowl 54 last year to the Kansas City Chiefs in heartbreaking fashion. The 49ers were up 20-10 with ten minutes left and couldn’t finish the job. The entire 2019-20 49ers roster is returning except for wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, defensive lineman Deforest Buckner and offensive tackle Joe Staley. The 49ers filled those voids with rookies Brandon Aiyuk, Javon Kinlaw and vetern left tackle Trent Wiliams. Mohamed Sanu who was just signed by the team will play that veteran role like Emmanuel Sanders did last year. The Kansas City Chiefs who are coming off a Super Bowl win are looking to go back this year. They added star running back Clyde-Edwards Helaire in the draft. The deadly dynamic duo with Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill will return this year. Mahomes signed a record breaking deal this offseason worth $503 million over 10 years. The Chiefs may need star players like Tyreek Hill and Travis Klece to take a salary cut following this deal. 

Comeback Player of the year-Cam Newton

With Tom Brady leaving the Patriots this offseason, everyone was doubting them. Especially since they had weak quarterback depth with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer. That is when Bill Belichick did what nobody expected and signed former league MVP Cam Newton after he was released by the Panthers. Cam’s season ended last season in November when he was placed on the injured reserve list for a foot injury. Cam will have some big targets this year in Julian Edelman and N’Keal Harry. He also has Sony Michel and James White coming out of the backfield. Cam will comeback this season and throw for over 3,500 yards and 27 touchdowns. The former league MVP will rush for 450 yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Breakout Player-Drew Lock

Drew Lock is one of the most exciting young talents in the NFL today. Lock made his NFL debut in week 12 of the 2019 season after being sidelined with a thumb injury and backing up Joe Flaco who was also out due to injury. He led the Broncos and finished 4-1 in the last five games of the season. He finished the season with 1,020 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns. Lock’s main targets this year are Courtland Sutton, Jerry Juedy and Noah Fant. These three players were all drafted within the last two years. This Denver offense has a lot of potential this year and the years to come to be a top offense in the league. Don’t be surprised if within the next few years this team makes it to a Super Bowl.

League MVP-Russel Wilson

Russel Wilson gets overlooked by players like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes when talking about the MVP race. He is one of the best players in the league at escaping the pocket and being able to extend the play.  Wilson’s top two receivers are returning as Tyler Lockett is coming off his first 1,000 yard season and D.K. Metcalf is coming off a stellar rookie season. Wilson only had five interceptions last season which is the least he has thrown for since entering the league in 2012. He had one of his best seasons last year throwing for 4,000 yards for the third time since 2015. Wilson also threw for over 30 touchdowns. Even through a tough NFC West Wilson will still find a way to outperform everyone in the league.

Rookie of the year-Joe Burrow

With the Bengals having the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft it was obvious they were going to take quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow broke a college football record last year with 60 passing touchdowns in a single season. Burrow will have college teammate Tee Higgins to throw to. Burrow will also have returning star wide receiver A.J. Green as a target after Green suffered an injury on the first day of training camp last season. Burrow is considered a generational talent by most and the missing piece to the Bengals offense. 

AFC North- Baltimore Ravens

Last year the Baltimore Ravens dominated the AFC North. The Steelers came in second place at 8-8 while the Ravens won the division with a record of 14-2. The division will be slightly more competitive this season with veteran quarterback Ben Rothlisberger coming back after injury. The Browns and Bengals will sit at the bottom of the division and will be no match for the Ravens. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens were knocked out of the playoffs early last season after losing to the Titans in the divisional round. Baltimore added Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins to an already outstanding run game. The Ravens also traded for defensive lineman Calais Campbell early this offseason. Baltimore’s season will end in the conference championship losing to the Kansas Chiefs after going 13-3.

AFC South-Indianapolis Colts

Jacoby Brisset showed to be a promising future for the Colts throwing for 2,942 and 18 touchdowns. There was a sudden change of plans when the Colts signed former Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. The Colts added rookie  wide receiver Michael Pittman to play alongside T.Y. Hilton and Zach Pascal. Indianapolis added a key part to their defense when they traded for defensive tackle Deforest Buckner. Buckner had seven and a half sacks last year playing on a loaded San Francisco pass rush. With the Texans losing Deandre Hopkins, the Colts have a high chance of winning the division.

AFC East-New England Patriots

The Patriots have not proven they aren’t a contender to win the division. Even with Tom Brady gone the Patriots added Cam Newton who was the league MVP in 2015. New England may not have the most talented team, however Bill Belichick is still the coach. Even with a lackluster offense last year, Belichick managed to lead the team to a 12-4 record and win the AFC East. Belichick and Cam Newton will lead the 2020 patriots to another 12-4 record and win their 12th division title in a row.

AFC West-Kansas City Chiefs

This one shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. The Chiefs have the best offense in the league with Patrick Moahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. The Chiefs added rookie running back Clyde-Edwards Helaire to an already scary offense for any team. Combine Patrick Mohmes strong arm and Tyreek Hill’s speed and it’s going to be nearly impossible to stop.

NFC North-Green Bay Packers

With the Vikings losing Stefon Diggs, the Packers have an even better chance to win the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers is playing his 15th season in the NFL and still shows he has more left in the tank. Aaron Jones and Davante Adams are both returning who are vital pieces in this team’s success on offense. Aaron Jones is coming off his breakout season where he rushed for 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns. Jaire Alexander and Za’darius Smith will carry the defense to a 12-4 record and win all of their division games.

NFC South-New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees, Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamra are one of the best offensive trios in the league. Last season Michael Thomas broke the single season reception record. Brees threw for 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Kamara played 14 games last season, and still rushed for almost 800 yards. With the Buccaneers being the only real competition in the division the Saints will dominate the NFC south and will sweep all three division rivals. They will get the first seed in the NFC and lose to the 49ers in the NFC championship game.

NFC East-Dallas Cowboys

It’s safe to assume that former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett was holding back the Cowboys. In 10 seasons as the head coach Garrett only had four winning seasons. This season Mike McCarthy will take over as head coach for the Cowboys. McCarthy led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 2011. Dallas has one of the most talented teams in the NFL. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott lead the offense, with Jaylon Smith and Demarcus Lawernce leading the defense. Dallas added star rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to an already stacked receiving core. The Cowboys will improve tremendously this year going 12-4 and getting knocked out in the divisional round.

NFC West-San Francisco 49ers

All the talk about the 49ers this offseason was how the 49ers would have a “Super Bowl hangover” and miss the playoffs. Almost the whole 2019 roster is returning. They added defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw after trading Deforest Buckner to the Colts. San Francisco has one of the best rushing offenses in the league. Last season the 49ers had 3 running backs who all rushed for 500 plus yards. They also have five first round picks on the defensive line. The “revenge tour” in San Francisco will be successful as the 49ers will defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 by a score of 26-20 in overtime.